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UK Warbirds Directory - OUT NOW!

A definitive guide to the historic ex-military aircraft flying in British skies today.

From Tiger Moths to Spitfires and Austers to Mustangs this bookazine provides a guide to the British warbird scene.
More than 1,500 aircraft are listed, many of which are illustrated with never before seen photographs.

Lavishly illustrated, this 148-page directory lists all known UK-based survivors as well as their individual histories, registrations and call signs.

Some of the most iconic aircraft in the preservation world – including Lancaster PA474, Spitfire MH434 and Swordfish LS326 –
are also featured in a series of special ‘In Focus’ sections detailing the airframe’s history and showcasing a collection of images from throughout the aircraft’s life.

The UK Warbird Directory is a must for all enthusiasts of ex-military aviation.

FEATURING:

Great War Veterans

On Silver Wings

Word War Two Trainers & Liaison Types

World War Two Heavies

Big Piston Fighters of World War Two (& Beyond)

Post War Trainers & Liaison Types

Rotary Wings

Cold War Warriors

AND MUCH MORE!

UK Warbirds Directory is AVAILABLE NOW for just £7.99 from the Key Online Shop. Alternatively, you can purchase your copy from WHSmith, any other leading newsagent or download your digital copy here.

Well I must say I picked this up in the shop on Friday with a view to buying but had a quick flick through first. Was sad to see lots of errors, mostly incorrect facts to do with locations and owners. Strangely though there were many missing aircraft currently in restoration in the UK, yet the editor decided to feature aircraft due to visit the UK during this year that are based overseas.

Very disappointing, and by counting 12 errors in just the first handful of pages I'm sorry to say I put it back on the shelf. Definitive guides are great, but useless if inaccurate I'm afraid.

I think one of the worst bits was when it was stated that the Heliopolis Gomhouria 181 was the same machine Peter Holloway had previously owned. Peter Owned a genuine 1945 Bucker Bestmann which he sold in 2010. Will imported the 181 in 2011 and had it repainted by Vintage Fabrics to look like a Bestmann - two very different aircraft and a very simple GINFO search would have highlighted that to whoever produced the directory.

It's details like that being so very wrong that instantly made me doubt the publications credibility and on checking a few other aircraft's details and finding them wrong - it went straight back on the shelf.

As well as the factual errors pointed out above it's also riddled with basic typos/proof reading errors which are obvious even without any specialist knowledge. I don't have it in front of me at the moment, but from memory things such as:

Gladiator entry completely missing the listing of the two aircraft
'Stephen Gery'
In the section about G-KITT the text states that it arrived at Duxford in February 1985 and the photo caption immediately above says February 1984
There are plenty of others...

Interestingly there is a specific credit on the title page for the proof reader.

I don't doubt the huge amount of effort required to put something like this together but as it's not a particularly time critical publication a couple more weeks spent fixing the typos wouldn't have gone amiss.

I hate buying magazines in bags, but took the plunge today. I understand that this took a long time to put together and I appreciate that, but even though I was instrumental in checking one part (wonder which?), still a few little mistakes here and there. Not all Auster 6s were converted into Terriers and the caption for Harvard AJ841/G-BJST has a photo of G-BKRA in it's place. And 27 pages of Spitfires......